S-2014

AN ACT Relating to authorizing the participation of youth as decision makers in dispositions of minor offenses and rules violations; amending RCW 13.40.020, 13.40.080, 13.40.250, and 46.63.040; adding new sections to chapter 13.40 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28A.300 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 28A.320 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 13.40.020 and 1997 c 338 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:

For the purposes of this chapter:

(1) "Community-based rehabilitation" means one or more of the following: Employment; attendance of information classes; literacy classes; counseling, outpatient substance abuse treatment programs, outpatient mental health programs, anger management classes, education or outpatient treatment programs to prevent animal cruelty, or other services; or attendance at school or other educational programs appropriate for the juvenile as determined by the school district. Placement in community-based rehabilitation programs is subject to available funds;

(2) Community-based sanctions may include one or more of the following:

(a) A fine, not to exceed five hundred dollars;

(b) Community service not to exceed one hundred fifty hours of service;

(3) "Community service" means compulsory service, without compensation, performed for the benefit of the community by the offender as punishment for committing an offense. Community service may be performed through public or private organizations or through work crews;

(4) "Community supervision" means an order of disposition by the court of an adjudicated youth not committed to the department or an order granting a deferred disposition. A community supervision order for a single offense may be for a period of up to two years for a sex offense as defined by RCW 9.94A.030 and up to one year for other offenses. As a mandatory condition of any term of community supervision, the court shall order the juvenile to refrain from committing new offenses. As a mandatory condition of community supervision, the court shall order the juvenile to comply with the mandatory school attendance provisions of chapter 28A.225 RCW and to inform the school of the existence of this requirement. Community supervision is an individualized program comprised of one or more of the following:

(a) Community-based sanctions;

(b) Community-based rehabilitation;

(d) Posting of a probation bond;

(5) "Confinement" means physical custody by the department of social and health services in a facility operated by or pursuant to a contract with the state, or physical custody in a detention facility operated by or pursuant to a contract with any county. The county may operate or contract with vendors to operate county detention facilities. The department may operate or contract to operate detention facilities for juveniles committed to the department. Pretrial confinement or confinement of less than thirty-one days imposed as part of a disposition or modification order may be served consecutively or intermittently, in the discretion of the court;

(6) "Court," when used without further qualification, means the juvenile court judge(s) or commissioner(s);

(7) "Criminal history" includes all criminal complaints against the respondent for which, prior to the commission of a current offense:

(a) The allegations were found correct by a court. If a respondent is convicted of two or more charges arising out of the same course of conduct, only the highest charge from among these shall count as an offense for the purposes of this chapter; or

(b) The criminal complaint was diverted by a prosecutor pursuant to the provisions of this chapter on agreement of the respondent and after an advisement to the respondent that the criminal complaint would be considered as part of the respondent's criminal history. A successfully completed deferred adjudication that was entered before July 1, 1998, or a deferred disposition shall not be considered part of the respondent's criminal history;

(8) "Department" means the department of social and health services;

(9) "Detention facility" means a county facility, paid for by the county, for the physical confinement of a juvenile alleged to have committed an offense or an adjudicated offender subject to a disposition or modification order. "Detention facility" includes county group homes, inpatient substance abuse programs, juvenile basic training camps, and electronic monitoring;

(10) "Diversion unit" means any probation counselor who enters into a diversion agreement with an alleged youthful offender, or any other person, community accountability board, youth court under the supervision of the juvenile court, or other entity except a law enforcement official or entity, with whom the juvenile court administrator has contracted to arrange and supervise such agreements pursuant to RCW 13.40.080, or any person, community accountability board, or other entity specially funded by the legislature to arrange and supervise diversion agreements in accordance with the requirements of this chapter. For purposes of this subsection, "community accountability board" means a board comprised of members of the local community in which the juvenile offender resides. The superior court shall appoint the members. The boards shall consist of at least three and not more than seven members. If possible, the board should include a variety of representatives from the community, such as a law enforcement officer, teacher or school administrator, high school student, parent, and business owner, and should represent the cultural diversity of the local community;

(11) "Foster care" means temporary physical care in a foster family home or group care facility as defined in RCW 74.15.020 and licensed by the department, or other legally authorized care;

(12) "Institution" means a juvenile facility established pursuant to chapters 72.05 and 72.16 through 72.20 RCW;

(13) "Intensive supervision program" means a parole program that requires intensive supervision and monitoring, offers an array of individualized treatment and transitional services, and emphasizes community involvement and support in order to reduce the likelihood a juvenile offender will commit further offenses;

(14) "Juvenile," "youth," and "child" mean any individual who is under the chronological age of eighteen years and who has not been previously transferred to adult court pursuant to RCW 13.40.110 or who is otherwise under adult court jurisdiction;

(15) "Juvenile offender" means any juvenile who has been found by the juvenile court to have committed an offense, including a person eighteen years of age or older over whom jurisdiction has been extended under RCW 13.40.300;

(16) "Local sanctions" means one or more of the following: (a) 0‑30 days of confinement; (b) 0‑12 months of community supervision; (c) 0‑150 hours of community service; or (d) $0‑$500 fine;

(17) "Manifest injustice" means a disposition that would either impose an excessive penalty on the juvenile or would impose a serious, and clear danger to society in light of the purposes of this chapter;

(18) "Monitoring and reporting requirements" means one or more of the following: Curfews; requirements to remain at home, school, work, or court-ordered treatment programs during specified hours; restrictions from leaving or entering specified geographical areas; requirements to report to the probation officer as directed and to remain under the probation officer's supervision; and other conditions or limitations as the court may require which may not include confinement;

(19) "Offense" means an act designated a violation or a crime if committed by an adult under the law of this state, under any ordinance of any city or county of this state, under any federal law, or under the law of another state if the act occurred in that state;

(20) "Probation bond" means a bond, posted with sufficient security by a surety justified and approved by the court, to secure the offender's appearance at required court proceedings and compliance with court-ordered community supervision or conditions of release ordered pursuant to RCW 13.40.040 or 13.40.050. It also means a deposit of cash or posting of other collateral in lieu of a bond if approved by the court;

(21) "Respondent" means a juvenile who is alleged or proven to have committed an offense;

(22) "Restitution" means financial reimbursement by the offender to the victim, and shall be limited to easily ascertainable damages for injury to or loss of property, actual expenses incurred for medical treatment for physical injury to persons, lost wages resulting from physical injury, and costs of the victim's counseling reasonably related to the offense if the offense is a sex offense. Restitution shall not include reimbursement for damages for mental anguish, pain and suffering, or other intangible losses. Nothing in this chapter shall limit or replace civil remedies or defenses available to the victim or offender;

(23) "Secretary" means the secretary of the department of social and health services. "Assistant secretary" means the assistant secretary for juvenile rehabilitation for the department;

(24) "Services" means services which provide alternatives to incarceration for those juveniles who have pleaded or been adjudicated guilty of an offense or have signed a diversion agreement pursuant to this chapter;

(25) "Sex offense" means an offense defined as a sex offense in RCW 9.94A.030;

(26) "Sexual motivation" means that one of the purposes for which the respondent committed the offense was for the purpose of his or her sexual gratification;

(27) "Surety" means an entity licensed under state insurance laws or by the state department of licensing, to write corporate, property, or probation bonds within the state, and justified and approved by the superior court of the county having jurisdiction of the case;

(28) "Violation" means an act or omission, which if committed by an adult, must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, and is punishable by sanctions which do not include incarceration;

(29) "Violent offense" means a violent offense as defined in RCW 9.94A.030.

(30) "Youth court" means a program under the supervision of the juvenile court.

Sec. 2. RCW 13.40.080 and 1997 c 338 s 70 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) A diversion agreement shall be a contract between a juvenile accused of an offense and a diversionary unit whereby the juvenile agrees to fulfill certain conditions in lieu of prosecution. Such agreements may be entered into only after the prosecutor, or probation counselor pursuant to this chapter, has determined that probable cause exists to believe that a crime has been committed and that the juvenile committed it. Such agreements shall be entered into as expeditiously as possible.

(2) A diversion agreement shall be limited to one or more of the following:

(a) Community service not to exceed one hundred fifty hours, not to be performed during school hours if the juvenile is attending school;

(b) Restitution limited to the amount of actual loss incurred by the victim;

(c) Attendance at up to ten hours of counseling and/or up to twenty hours of educational or informational sessions at a community agency. The educational or informational sessions may include sessions relating to respect for self, others, and authority; victim awareness; accountability; self-worth; responsibility; work ethics; good citizenship; literacy; and life skills. For purposes of this section, "community agency" may also mean a community-based nonprofit organization, if approved by the diversion unit. The state shall not be liable for costs resulting from the diversionary unit exercising the option to permit diversion agreements to mandate attendance at up to ten hours of counseling and/or up to twenty hours of educational or informational sessions;

(d) A fine, not to exceed one hundred dollars. In determining the amount of the fine, the diversion unit shall consider only the juvenile's financial resources and whether the juvenile has the means to pay the fine. The diversion unit shall not consider the financial resources of the juvenile's parents, guardian, or custodian in determining the fine to be imposed; and

(e) Requirements to remain during specified hours at home, school, or work, and restrictions on leaving or entering specified geographical areas.

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (2) of this section, youth courts are not limited to the conditions imposed by subsection (2) of this section in imposing sanctions on juveniles pursuant to section 8 of this act.

(4) In assessing periods of community service to be performed and restitution to be paid by a juvenile who has entered into a diversion agreement, the court officer to whom this task is assigned shall consult with the juvenile's custodial parent or parents or guardian and victims who have contacted the diversionary unit and, to the extent possible, involve members of the community. Such members of the community shall meet with the juvenile and advise the court officer as to the terms of the diversion agreement and shall supervise the juvenile in carrying out its terms.

((~~(4)~~)) (5)(a) A diversion agreement may not exceed a period of six months and may include a period extending beyond the eighteenth birthday of the divertee.

(b) If additional time is necessary for the juvenile to complete restitution to the victim, the time period limitations of this subsection may be extended by an additional six months.

(c) If the juvenile has not paid the full amount of restitution by the end of the additional six-month period, then the juvenile shall be referred to the juvenile court for entry of an order establishing the amount of restitution still owed to the victim. In this order, the court shall also determine the terms and conditions of the restitution, including a payment plan extending up to ten years if the court determines that the juvenile does not have the means to make full restitution over a shorter period. For the purposes of this subsection ((~~(4)~~)) (5)(c), the juvenile shall remain under the court's jurisdiction for a maximum term of ten years after the juvenile's eighteenth birthday. Prior to the expiration of the initial ten-year period, the juvenile court may extend the judgment for restitution an additional ten years. The court may not require the juvenile to pay full or partial restitution if the juvenile reasonably satisfies the court that he or she does not have the means to make full or partial restitution and could not reasonably acquire the means to pay the restitution over a ten-year period. The county clerk shall make disbursements to victims named in the order. The restitution to victims named in the order shall be paid prior to any payment for other penalties or monetary assessments. A juvenile under obligation to pay restitution may petition the court for modification of the restitution order.

((~~(5)~~)) (6) The juvenile shall retain the right to be referred to the court at any time prior to the signing of the diversion agreement.

((~~(6)~~)) (7) Divertees and potential divertees shall be afforded due process in all contacts with a diversionary unit regardless of whether the juveniles are accepted for diversion or whether the diversion program is successfully completed. Such due process shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(a) A written diversion agreement shall be executed stating all conditions in clearly understandable language;

(b) Violation of the terms of the agreement shall be the only grounds for termination;

(c) No divertee may be terminated from a diversion program without being given a court hearing, which hearing shall be preceded by:

(i) Written notice of alleged violations of the conditions of the diversion program; and

(ii) Disclosure of all evidence to be offered against the divertee;

(d) The hearing shall be conducted by the juvenile court and shall include:

(i) Opportunity to be heard in person and to present evidence;

(ii) The right to confront and cross-examine all adverse witnesses;

(iii) A written statement by the court as to the evidence relied on and the reasons for termination, should that be the decision; and

(iv) Demonstration by evidence that the divertee has substantially violated the terms of his or her diversion agreement.

(e) The prosecutor may file an information on the offense for which the divertee was diverted:

(i) In juvenile court if the divertee is under eighteen years of age; or

(ii) In superior court or the appropriate court of limited jurisdiction if the divertee is eighteen years of age or older.

((~~(7)~~)) (8) The diversion unit shall, subject to available funds, be responsible for providing interpreters when juveniles need interpreters to effectively communicate during diversion unit hearings or negotiations.

((~~(8)~~)) (9) The diversion unit shall be responsible for advising a divertee of his or her rights as provided in this chapter.

((~~(9)~~)) (10) The diversion unit may refer a juvenile to community-based counseling or treatment programs.

((~~(10)~~)) (11) The right to counsel shall inure prior to the initial interview for purposes of advising the juvenile as to whether he or she desires to participate in the diversion process or to appear in the juvenile court. The juvenile may be represented by counsel at any critical stage of the diversion process, including intake interviews and termination hearings. The juvenile shall be fully advised at the intake of his or her right to an attorney and of the relevant services an attorney can provide. For the purpose of this section, intake interviews mean all interviews regarding the diversion agreement process.

The juvenile shall be advised that a diversion agreement shall constitute a part of the juvenile's criminal history as defined by RCW 13.40.020((~~(9)~~)) (7). A signed acknowledgment of such advisement shall be obtained from the juvenile, and the document shall be maintained by the diversionary unit together with the diversion agreement, and a copy of both documents shall be delivered to the prosecutor if requested by the prosecutor. The supreme court shall promulgate rules setting forth the content of such advisement in simple language.

((~~(11)~~)) (12) When a juvenile enters into a diversion agreement, the juvenile court may receive only the following information for dispositional purposes:

(a) The fact that a charge or charges were made;

(b) The fact that a diversion agreement was entered into;

(d) Whether the alleged offender performed his or her obligations under such agreement; and

(e) The facts of the alleged offense.

((~~(12)~~)) (13) A diversionary unit may refuse to enter into a diversion agreement with a juvenile. When a diversionary unit refuses to enter a diversion agreement with a juvenile, it shall immediately refer such juvenile to the court for action and shall forward to the court the criminal complaint and a detailed statement of its reasons for refusing to enter into a diversion agreement. The diversionary unit shall also immediately refer the case to the prosecuting attorney for action if such juvenile violates the terms of the diversion agreement.

((~~(13)~~)) (14) A diversionary unit may, in instances where it determines that the act or omission of an act for which a juvenile has been referred to it involved no victim, or where it determines that the juvenile referred to it has no prior criminal history and is alleged to have committed an illegal act involving no threat of or instance of actual physical harm and involving not more than fifty dollars in property loss or damage and that there is no loss outstanding to the person or firm suffering such damage or loss, counsel and release or release such a juvenile without entering into a diversion agreement. A diversion unit's authority to counsel and release a juvenile under this subsection shall include the authority to refer the juvenile to community-based counseling or treatment programs. Any juvenile released under this subsection shall be advised that the act or omission of any act for which he or she had been referred shall constitute a part of the juvenile's criminal history as defined by RCW 13.40.020((~~(9)~~)) (7). A signed acknowledgment of such advisement shall be obtained from the juvenile, and the document shall be maintained by the unit, and a copy of the document shall be delivered to the prosecutor if requested by the prosecutor. The supreme court shall promulgate rules setting forth the content of such advisement in simple language. A juvenile determined to be eligible by a diversionary unit for release as provided in this subsection shall retain the same right to counsel and right to have his or her case referred to the court for formal action as any other juvenile referred to the unit.

((~~(14)~~)) (15) A diversion unit may supervise the fulfillment of a diversion agreement entered into before the juvenile's eighteenth birthday and which includes a period extending beyond the divertee's eighteenth birthday.

((~~(15)~~)) (16) If a fine required by a diversion agreement cannot reasonably be paid due to a change of circumstance, the diversion agreement may be modified at the request of the divertee and with the concurrence of the diversion unit to convert an unpaid fine into community service. The modification of the diversion agreement shall be in writing and signed by the divertee and the diversion unit. The number of hours of community service in lieu of a monetary penalty shall be converted at the rate of the prevailing state minimum wage per hour.

((~~(16)~~)) (17) Fines imposed under this section shall be collected and paid into the county general fund in accordance with procedures established by the juvenile court administrator under RCW 13.04.040 and may be used only for juvenile services. In the expenditure of funds for juvenile services, there shall be a maintenance of effort whereby counties exhaust existing resources before using amounts collected under this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 13.40 RCW to read as follows:

Youth courts provide a diversion for cases involving juvenile offenders, in which participants, under the supervision of an adult coordinator, may serve in various capacities within the program, acting in the role of jurors, lawyers, bailiffs, clerks, and judges. Youths who appear before youth courts are youths eligible for diversion pursuant to RCW 13.40.070 (6) and (7). Youth courts have no jurisdiction except as provided for in this act. Youth courts are diversion units and not courts established under Article IV of the state Constitution.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 13.40 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The office of the administrator for the courts shall encourage the juvenile courts to work with cities and counties to implement, expand, or use youth court programs for juveniles who commit diversion-eligible offenses, civil, or traffic infractions. Program operations of youth court programs may be funded by government and private grants. Youth court programs are limited to those that:

(a) Are developed using the guidelines for creating and operating teen court programs developed by the American probation and parole association teen courts project;

(b) Target offenders age eight through seventeen; and

(i) Youth must be held accountable for their problem behavior;

(ii) Youth must be educated about the impact their actions have on themselves and others including their victims, their families, and their community;

(iii) Youth must develop skills to resolve problems with their peers more effectively; and

(iv) Youth should be provided a meaningful forum to practice and enhance newly developed skills.

(2) Youth court programs may be established by law enforcement entities, municipal courts, district courts, juvenile probation departments, private nonprofit organizations, and schools, under the supervision of juvenile court.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 13.40 RCW to read as follows:

(1) Youth courts have authority over juveniles ages eight through seventeen who:

(a) Along with their parent, guardian, or legal custodian, voluntarily and in writing request youth court involvement;

(b) Admit they have committed the offense they are referred for;

(c) Along with their parent, guardian, or legal custodian, waive any privilege against self-incrimination concerning the offense; and

(d) Along with their parent, guardian, or legal custodian, agree to comply with the youth court disposition of the case.

(2) Youth courts shall not exercise authority over youth who are under the continuing jurisdiction of the juvenile court for law violations, including a youth with a matter pending before the juvenile court but which has not yet been adjudicated.

(3) Youth courts may decline to accept a youth for youth court disposition for any reason and may terminate a youth from youth court participation at any time.

(4) A youth or his or her parent, guardian, or legal custodian may withdraw from the youth court process at any time.

(5) Youth courts shall give any victims of a juvenile the opportunity to be notified, present, and heard in any youth court proceeding.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. A new section is added to chapter 13.40 RCW to read as follows:

Youth court may not notify the juvenile court of satisfaction of conditions until all ordered restitution has been paid.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. A new section is added to chapter 13.40 RCW to read as follows:

Every youth appearing before a youth court shall be accompanied by his or her parent, guardian, or legal custodian.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. A new section is added to chapter 13.40 RCW to read as follows:

(1) Youth court dispositional options include those delineated in RCW 13.40.080, and may also include:

(a) Participating in law-related education classes, appropriate counseling, treatment, or other education programs;

(b) Providing periodic reports to the youth court;

(d) Serving as a participant in future youth court proceedings;

(e) Writing apology letters; or

(f) Writing essays.

(2) Youth courts shall not impose a term of confinement or detention. Youth courts may require that the youth pay reasonable fees to participate in youth court and in classes, counseling, treatment, or other educational programs that are the disposition of the youth court.

(3) A youth court disposition shall be completed within one hundred eighty days from the date of referral.

(4) Pursuant to RCW 13.40.080(1), a youth court disposition shall be reduced to writing and signed by the youth and his or her parent, guardian, or legal custodian accepting the disposition terms.

(5) Youth court shall notify the juvenile court upon successful or unsuccessful completion of the disposition.

(6) Youth court shall notify the prosecutor or probation counselor of a failure to successfully complete the youth court disposition.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. A new section is added to chapter 13.40 RCW to read as follows:

A youth court may require that a youth pay a nonrefundable fee, not exceeding thirty dollars, to cover the costs of administering the program. The fee may be reduced or waived for a participant. Fees shall be paid to and accounted for by the youth court.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. A new section is added to chapter 28A.300 RCW to read as follows:

The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall encourage school districts to implement, expand, or use student court programs for students who commit violations of school rules and policies. Program operations of student courts may be funded by government and private grants. Student court programs are limited to those that:

(1) Are developed using the guidelines for creating and operating teen court programs developed by the American probation and parole association teen courts project;

(2) Target violators of school rules age eight through seventeen; and

(3) Emphasize the following principles:

(a) Youth must be held accountable for their problem behavior;

(b) Youth must be educated about the impact their actions have on themselves and others including the school, school personnel, their classmates, their families, and their community;

(d) Youth should be provided a meaningful forum to practice and enhance newly developed skills.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. A new section is added to chapter 28A.320 RCW to read as follows:

Local school boards may provide for school credit for participation as a member of a youth court as defined in RCW 13.40.020 or a student court pursuant to section 10 of this act.

Sec. 12. RCW 13.40.250 and 1997 c 338 s 36 are each amended to read as follows:

A traffic or civil infraction case involving a juvenile under the age of sixteen may be diverted in accordance with the provisions of this chapter or filed in juvenile court.

(1) If a notice of a traffic or civil infraction is filed in juvenile court, the juvenile named in the notice shall be afforded the same due process afforded to adult defendants in traffic infraction cases.

(2) A monetary penalty imposed upon a juvenile under the age of sixteen who is found to have committed a traffic or civil infraction may not exceed one hundred dollars. At the juvenile's request, the court may order performance of a number of hours of community service in lieu of a monetary penalty, at the rate of the prevailing state minimum wage per hour.

(3) A diversion agreement entered into by a juvenile referred pursuant to this section shall be limited to thirty hours of community service, or educational or informational sessions.

(4) Traffic or civil infractions referred to a youth court pursuant to this section are subject to the conditions imposed by section 8 of this act.

(5) If a case involving the commission of a traffic or civil infraction or offense by a juvenile under the age of sixteen has been referred to a diversion unit, an abstract of the action taken by the diversion unit may be forwarded to the department of licensing in the manner provided for in RCW 46.20.270(2).

Sec. 13. RCW 46.63.040 and 1984 c 258 s 137 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) All violations of state law, local law, ordinance, regulation, or resolution designated as traffic infractions in RCW 46.63.020 may be heard and determined by a district court, except as otherwise provided in this section.

(2) Any municipal court has the authority to hear and determine traffic infractions pursuant to this chapter.

(3) Any city or town with a municipal court may contract with the county to have traffic infractions committed within the city or town adjudicated by a district court.

(4) District court commissioners have the authority to hear and determine traffic infractions pursuant to this chapter.

(5) Any district or municipal court may, with the consent of the juvenile court, refer juveniles age sixteen or seventeen to a youth court, as defined in RCW 13.40.020, for traffic infractions.

(6) The boards of regents of the state universities, and the boards of trustees of the regional universities and of The Evergreen State College have the authority to hear and determine traffic infractions under RCW 28B.10.560.